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Granny Chic; 2021’s Coziest Home Decor Trend

Exiting a period where we spent more time in our homes than ever, comfort is key in design trends moving forward. 2021’s interior decor trends are looking towards cozy, nostalgic design, reminiscent of grandparents’ homes from years past. Designs that had previously seemed dated, are being revamped with modern touches for modern sensibilities, creating an eclectic mix of bold mid-century decor and clean contemporary finishes that’s as inviting as it is chic.

Color Palette: Warm Tones

Grey and black living room accented with warm, mustard yellow pillows
Green-toned blue room exudes warmth with teal accents
Olive green walls bring warmth to this retro living room
Burnt oranges bring warmth to a mid-century modern bookshelf
Cozy oversized ottoman's bring warmth to this chic room with their mustard-yellow hue
Green-Blue wallpaper brings warmth to this granny chic foyer
Sage green ceramic bottles against a warm green wall
Retro abstract art brings pops or orange and red to this chic room

Photos and decor courtesy of Revelation by Uttermost ©

Warm tones are what’s in! Mustard and golden yellows, deep blue-greens, and warm olive are comforting colors that create depth and contrast to accent your room. For a more alternative option, burnt oranges with pops of bright red provide as much warmth as they do retro charm. Warmer colors give safer, cozier feelings to your home, making it a vibrant place to find reprieve.

Sleek Mid-Century Inspired Furniture

Mid-Century modern retro console table
Retro-inspired accent table with brass and lucite details
Mi-century modern dining table is sophisticated and retro
Abstract, color-block stools are chic and right on color trend for 2021
Accent tables featuring geometric shapes and mixed wood give a modern-retro feel to your decor
Mixed marble and brass looks chic in this retro-modern side table

Photos and decor courtesy of Revelation by Uttermost ©

Mid-century style furniture helps bring the “granny” to Granny Chic! Modernized furniture from the space-age 60’s and 70’s adds a sleek retro edge to any room. Furniture pieces in this style feature simple geometric lines with mixed materials. Marble, wood, aluminum, lucite, and brass are commonly intermixed to create contrast in texture and color.

Lush Floral Paintings and Botanicals

Granny Chic floral print in a retro-surrealist style
Framed dried botanical prints provide beautiful home decor
Retro-chic floral print is framed by trendy mid-century lamps and home decor

Photos and decor courtesy of Revelation by Uttermost ©

Art Nouveau and mid-century surrealist inspired floral paintings mixed with dried botanicals and floral prints is a hallmark of the “granny chic” look. Bold abstract art pieces can also be used but more lush floral pieces add a signature contrast to the sleek furnishings in this style.

Comfortable Den-Style Seating

Granny-chic retro 70's chair with animal print
Square leather-padded chair is retro and on trend for 2021
Ovesized 70's chair with bold black and white print
Cozy, den style living room with overstuffed seating
Teal, art deco revival chair with square lines - perfect for 2021 interior design and color trends
Masculine, leather padded sofa in a chic nostalgic style
Nostalgic grey swivel chair inspired by the 1970's would look fantastic in a granny chic living room or office

Photos and decor courtesy of Revelation by Uttermost ©

“Granny chic” seating is all about bringing back the cozy, family gathering spaces of years past. Inspired by 1970’s dens, the focus is on wide seats, comfortable cushions, and lots of them. Boxy, squared lines are popular in this style of seating for the safe walls they provide. Plump cushions and 1-and-a-half wide chairs are offset by these simple shapes. Bold, overscale prints and padded leather accent this seating with an authentically vintage feel. To finish off the look, overstuffed ottomans and contrasting textural pillows further add comfort and levity to this more-is-more approach to in-style living.

Current Versions of Thrifted Finds

Art deco, 70's inspired chest of drawers
Large retro-nostalgic chest with geometric shapes and botanicals
Antique-looking side table with gold and white detailing is granny chic
Vintage console table with geometric shapes fits in perfectly with the granny chic interior decor trend

Photos and decor courtesy of Revelation by Uttermost ©

In conjunction with sleek, simplified mid-century modernist decor, updated antiquities of other eras play just as important of a role. Granny chic is all about contrasting modern with what’s old, what’s minimal with what’s over the top; such is that furniture would be the same way. Mimicking the aesthetic of updated antique and thrift-store furniture, retro-reproductions with modern paint and finishes have grown in popularity. Without these more broadly vintage and unabashedly retro pieces, there would be no “granny” in “granny chic,” Mixing eras brings out the best in them all and makes for a uniquely sophisticated home.

Contrast: Dark makes comfort from light

Wood paneled walls with a retro console table
a blue wallpapered room with mid-century modern granny chic decor
Black walls with black furniture and bold pops of white
Deep blue walls with gold mirrors and marble side stand decor

Photos and decor courtesy of Revelation by Uttermost ©

Keeping with the theme of comfort, darkened walls add coziness to your space, contrasted with light and inviting accents. Bedrooms, offices, and dens are particularly benefited by the secure and inviting feeling dark walls provide. Wallpaper, wood paneling, and paint are all options in the retro-clash trend of Granny Chic!

Glazed Ceramics and Petrified Wood

Retro wavy ceramic vase and petrified wood interior decor
Ceramic bottles with petrified wood
Reclaimed teak wood balls give a retro feel with their geometric shapes
Warped gold vases look chic and retro
Petrified wood decor compliments the granny chic style
Glazed decorative bottles look both modern and retro

Photos and decor courtesy of Revelation by Uttermost ©

Decor, table accents, and art have no shortage of options in a “granny chic” styled room. From picture frames, to vases, to books on the shelf, the generational nostalgia associated with the trend ensures that every household will have their own interpretation of what it looks like to be back at “home”. Whether your grandmother’s home was more 60’s or 70’s, ceramics and natural wood pieces are safe bets that add warmth and just the right amount of timeless to the room. Glazed and enameled pieces are great options to add a retro feel. 

Gold, Brass, and Bronze

Gold mid-century lamp looks vintage and chic
Gold abstract sculpture with geometric shapes
Gold lined mirrors with gold and lamps bring a retro-modern glow
Gold and marble abstract sculpture on trend for 2021
Retro barstools with gold detailing would fit perfectly in any granny chic lounge, bar, or kitchen
Antique human figurine bookends plated in gold are charming and unique

Photos and decor courtesy of Revelation by Uttermost ©

When decorating a room, the finishing details are always what pulls it together. In the perfect cozy-retro-granny chic room, there’s no better finishing touch than gold, brass, and bronze. Tying into the warm colors and high contrast stylings of the trend, yellow and amber toned metals are the way to go. Gold has a timeless, nostalgic feel that is forever associated with the luster of the past. What better way to relive the golden years than with a gold-accented present?

Where To Get Started?

All photos and products in this article are courtesy of Revelations by Uttermost, a premier wholesale provider of furniture and home decor. Ginger Huff Interiors is a top interior design company serving the St. Louis metro area and customers nationwide for over 30 years. GHI is a registered Uttermost dealer and can help you build your perfect room.

To get started on your home project, remodel, or commercial project email us at [email protected] or call at (618) 791-9113 for a free complimentary consultation. 

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